Innovative Projects Realized

Seizure induction by single-cell control of neural circuits

The impact of seizures on the life of an epilepsy patient is significant. How they start, propagate and terminate remains unknown. Our hypothesis is that seizures develop in the brain when populations of neurons lose their ability to efficiently parse incoming inputs, known as decorrelation. When these neurons are not able to sufficiently decorrelate incoming inputs from other brain regions, they begin to fire in a hyper-synchronous manner leading to seizures. We believe that the inhibitory neurons of the brain (interneurons) have a critical role in this function, and thus in triggering and propagating seizures. The primary innovation that will allow us to begin to study the exact role of these cells in seizures is revolutionary microscopy technology that allows for recording neural activity from a neuronal population and stimulating the same neurons with single-cell resolution control. The primary objectives of my project are to learn this technique, and test which variables of interneuron stimulation control the initiation of a seizure. We hope to gain an understanding into how interneurons might be complicit in the initiation and propagation of seizures in the brain.

Understanding helmet design and performance based on size, fit, and component analysis

The main concern for helmet performance is the reduction of skull and brain injury risk during impact events. Combinations of shell materials, foams, and three-dimensional engineered structures are used to design hockey helmets. Using current helmet evaluation techniques, the contributions of each of these components cannot be directly assessed. In the proposed work, high-speed X-ray imaging will be used to obtain full-field, time-resolved internal monitoring and measurement of helmet component deformation and interaction with a head surrogate (headform). This information will be used to redesign shell structures, liner components, and engineered structures to optimize helmet design. This will improve helmet safety for Canadians engaged in sports through all levels of play and will provide CCM Hockey with a competitive advantage in the sport specific personal protection market. The proposed project will provide advantageous training for the interns, who will gain experiential research opportunities focused on the needs of Canadian industry.

Engineered Framework for Wildfire-Urban Interfaces

The intent of this research is to study fire dynamics and the threats it imposes on people, property, business continuity and environments, namely at wildfire-urban interfaces (WUI). Worcester Polytechnic Institute of Boston, MA, is equipped with modern technologies, not yet available at my home institution, that can be used to build a comprehensive analysis of fire dynamics. Conducting advanced experiments within their facilities will aid in the development of universal fire protection strategies and solutions. In the complex process of engineered designs, the fire protection discipline is essential to ensure accessibility and safety for all occupants, while promoting the ability of the organization to fulfill its mission. By integrating this research with that of human behavior and material fire resistance, we can further mature the discipline to be effectively incorporated in engineering applications and subsequently build a framework for WUI evacuations.

An investigation of physical and physicochemical methods for wollastonite-diopside separation

Wollastonite(CaSiO3) and diopside(CaMgSi2O6) are silicate minerals occurring in the mining operation near Kingston. Quantity of each mineral in the deposit vary from 30 to 40%. An efficient separation of wollastonite from diopside represents a challenge in processing this ore. Efficiency of flotation separation at high levels diopside is not consistent since both silicates respond the same type of collectors. A higher Wol/Diop ratio in the feed is one of the determining factors to achieve high grade wollastonite concentrates. The proposed research program will involve investigations to assess the potential of mineral separation methods both physical and physicochemical in nature. Unlike diopside, wollastonite has a tendency to form needle-like particles. The role the shape dependency has on classification and gravity separation methods involving shaking table and Humphrey spirals will be assessed. Additional research efforts will be dedicated to screening and selection of flotation reagents through contact angle measurements to assess relative effects of collectors/modifiers.

Masters Athlete Screening Study (MASS) – Part 2 (5-year evaluation)

Masters athletes (>35 years) are a rapidly growing population that participate in a variety of sports. While exercise has tremendous health benefits, there is a small absolute risk of a heart attack and sudden death during exercise. Prevention strategies, such as heart screening aim to identify heart disease that may serve as a trigger for fatal adverse events. This will be the first prospective longitudinal study in Canada examining the effectiveness of heart screening in Masters athletes. Participants will be screened every year for five years using a modified version of the American Heart Association recommendations, resting electrocardiogram, Framingham Risk Score, and a lifestyle, physical activity and psychosocial questionnaire. At present, there is a scarcity of evidence pertaining to heart risk evaluation and screening in Masters athletes. This study will allow the partner organization to gain a better understanding of the cardiovascular risk in Masters athletes and will provide an evidence-based recommendation on whether screening effectively detects heart disease in a reasonable, cost-effective fashion.

Assessing the impact of an immersive VR gaming experience on navigation ability and spatial cognition in an elderly population

This project will investigate whether playing an immersive virtual reality (VR) game called DoVille is beneficial to older adults’ memory and navigation abilities. Spatial navigation is a fundamental skill that relies on our ability to make an accurate mental map of the space around us, be aware of our position in the environment, and remember a path through that environment. These abilities are known to deteriorate in older adults, which can lead to a loss of independence and quality-of-life. Fortunately, previous studies have shown that games and enriched environments can improve spatial navigation performance. This study will measure the extent to which playing the DoVille VR game affects memory and spatial navigation in healthy older adults. Understanding the ability of accessible and fun VR games to improve these faculties is a key step in promoting healthy aging and determining the role that VR can play in that process.

The translation and research of a sanskrit manuscript:Vajravali

My research is focused on the proofreading and translation of the sanskrit manuscripture Vajr?v?li,a ritual compendium compiled by the famous abbot of Vikrama?ila monastery, Abhay?karagupta. Vajr?v?li has mainly introduced the process of drawing a mandala.The so-called “mandala” is a pantheon of tantric buddhism,which can be classified into the “drawn mandala”(lekhyamandala) and “envisaged mandala”(bhavyamandala). The objective of my project is to make a critical edition of the sanskrit version of Sutranavidhi and Rajahpatanavidhi with the help of three sanskrit manuscripts and then translate them into Chinese. The outcome of my research will be a critical sanskrit version with its Tibetan version and my Chinese translation.

Optizing/Maximizing HPV Vaccine Strategies to Minimize HPVInfections for Canadians

The human papillomavirus (HPV) infects 75% of Canadians today and causes ailments such as warts

and cancers. The newly approved vaccine, Gardasil, is being used across Canada to prevent

infection of HPV and therefore stop the development of genital warts and cancers. Each province is

given the responsibility of developing a vaccine program and implementing it. When the programs

were first introduced in 2007, they differed across provinces by the age of children who were receiving

the vaccine, how many doses were given and the proportion of children in each province vaccinated.

Since Health Canada approved the vaccine for males in 2010, the program component of which

gender(s) to vaccinate can now be added. We use mathematical modeling techniques to consider

these factors to develop the most effective vaccine program to minimize the number of infections for

each province and territory. The partner organization, the Public Health Agency of Canada, will benefit from this research by (i)

gaining knowledge of….

Nanocomposites as Multifunctional Structure for Space Radiation Shielding

During interplanetary travels, space radiations are always crucial to spacecraft design due to their extreme hazards to human beings and electronics. Conventional materials, such as aluminum and other heavy metals, have been widely used on spacecraft. The cost of launching overweighed items to space is still high even reusable rockets are available now. Reducing weight of shielding structures on spacecraft will largely benefit future space missions. Nanocomposites with extreme low density but high radiation shielding properties are proposed in this project. Their porous structure is suitable to craft functions from other nanomaterials into the nanocomposite by advanced technologies. High radiation shielding effectiveness, mechanical strength, thermal properties and low outgassing will be achieved by this innovative nanocomposite. The prototype of this state-of-art space radiation shielding material will lead the company to be more competitive and further height in value.

Developing effective eDNA tools for environmental monitoring at MOWI salmon aquaculture sites in Atlantic Canada

This project addresses a major challenge in ensuring the sustainability of the salmon aquaculture industry: how to reliably monitor the effects of organic waste (excess feed and feces) on the surrounding marine environment, in an environmentally-friendly way.

Synthesis of Thiol-PEG-PBS-grafted gold nanoparticles for the treatment of head-and-neck cancers

Cancer represents a major public health problem, representing about 13% of deaths worldwide, accounting for more than seven million deaths a year. Surgical excision, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy encompass the forefront of antineoplastic therapy; however, it is well known the numerous adverse effects related to these therapeutic modalities. Some treatments have enough potential to help or replace conventional treatments, such as Magneto hyperthermia and Photodynamic therapy. These require the development of new materials at the nanoscale, that can carry out the loading of its components and that present the characteristics of biocompatibility necessary for biomedical applications. In this context, the objective of the work is to develop a release mechanism based on gold nanoparticles coated with HS-PEG-PBS to enhance the treatment of head and neck cancer. The system consists of the synthesis of gold nanoparticles that will be coated with the HS-PEG-PBS copolymer. Subsequently, three experimental groups will be produced: Group 1 consists of the incorporation of perillyl alcohol, which will function as a chemotherapeutic agent, to the coated gold particle; The second group consists of the incorporation of the photosensitizing agent into the particle; In the third group will be encapsulation of both drugs to the particle.

D2K+: Deep Learning of System Crash and Failure Reports for DevOps

The objective of this project is to develop techniques and tools that leverage artificial intelligence to automate the process of handling system crashes at Ericsson, one of the largest telecom and software companies in the world, and where the handling of crash reports (CRs) and continuous monitoring of key infrastructures tend to be particularly complex due to the large client base the company serves. In this project, we will explore the use of deep learning algorithms to classify CRs based on a variety of features including crash traces, CR descriptions, and a combination of both. Crashes in the same group can be processed in a similar way, reducing the time to process each crash separately. In addition, we will conduct qualitative studies in order to understand the relationship between CRs and faults, providing Ericsson teams with the ability to prioritize problems, collect statistics, and gain actionable insights into their deployed systems. Furthermore, this project will be essential in conducting root cause analysis of faults and crashes, developing organizational guidelines for CR reporting, and setting the ground work for powerful operational intelligence capabilities.